Is the top four turning into the magnificent seven?
March 1st 2010 21:55
When the Premiership began back in 1992, few would have predicted that the "big four" of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United would be dominating the table.
I say this as despite Manchester United winning the inaugral title, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal finished 6th, 10th and 11th respectively.
It wasn't until the 1997/1998 season that the current big four actually finished in the top four, and that feat wasn't repeated until 2003/04, when you could argue money was really becoming improtant in the league, and now that they are finishing in the top four consistently, they are really raking it in, from television and Champion's League matches, so, is this top four monopoly becoming boring, and will it lead to a decrease in interest from the public?
This could be true, if it weren't for the three main chasers. I am of course talking about Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Tottenham, and maybe even Everton could be thrown into the hat.
For a number of seasons there have been cases where the big four's statuses have been under threat particularly from Everton who managed to squeeze Liverpool out in 2004/05 season, but there more recently, Spurs have finished fifth twice and ran Arsenal close, and also Aston Villa were really close, if it weren't for squad limitations maybe they would have finished fourth.
So let's take a look at the contenders.
Manchester City began the season with all guns blazing, after their mammoth spending in the summer, and were looking like serious players especially after running Manchester United very close at Old Trafford, although it would seem lately they have been lacking defensively, if Mark Hughes can get the balance between their superb, free-flowing attacking play, and a stronger, more compact defence, it is a very strong possibility that they could topple the big four, and even maintain that status, as they have the big names to do so, and financial backing to maintain the challenge, although there are a few rumbles from the fans that Hughes may not be the right man to take them to the heights of Champions League football, and with owners desperate for success, how long will Hughes be at his post at Eastlands?
Aston Villa have certainly looked likely to break into the top four for a couple of seasons, and with the shrewd purchases of Richard Dunne, James Collins, and Stephen Warnock, O'Neill seems to have found a defence that can concede fewer goals and enable the likes of Ashley Young, James Milner, Agbonlahor and Carew to really flourish and score plenty of goals that they are certainly capable of doing, and if they can maintain this steady start they could well be in the running come the end of the season, despite a poor start at home to Wigan, they have really showed what they can do with impressive wins at Anfield and against Chelsea at Villa Park, it certainly seems Villa are more than capable of beating the big teams, but are they capable of maintaining these results throughout the season?
Tottenham really started the season on fire, particularly Jermaine Defoe, both scoring goals freely, and beating Liverpool on the opening day of the season, fans were expecting the form to continue but recent results such as losing to Stoke at home, after dominating throughout really set them back, but they have quality throughout the team and if they can keep Defoe and Lennon fit and firing they have goals in them and a consistent back four would go a long way for them to finish in the top four.
Now, why has there been so much talk of these teams breaking into the top four?
I would say that it is because they haven't been as vulnerable as this over recent years, many tipped Arsenal to be the team to suffer but they have shown that they have extra-ordinary attacking flair and are winning on a regular basis, despite the two losses to both Manchester sides away from the Emirates, their season has been filled with the promises that Wenger has been making over the years, and they are looking at this moment in time, that they can sustain a title challenge, although United have been plodding along and picking up points, they are clearly not the same side with Christiano Ronaldo and even Carlos Tevez, Vidic and Ferdinand haven't played anywhere near their best and the ageing Scholes and unimpressive Nani don't seem to be up to the standard United expect, but nevertheless, they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, Chelsea seem to be the favourites to lift the title, especially after the victory at Stamford Bridge yesterday, and despite a couple of blips so far, and a transfer embargo, that may well be lifted, Chelsea seem better than ever under the impressive Ancelotti, and they are certainly my pick to lift the title.
Now Liverpool, after last season's disappointment of coming close to winning their first title, many tipped them to be up there once again but after a very poor start it seems that Liverpool are now the favourites to be beaten out of a top four spot, and already with financial problems within the club, it would really but a question mark of not only the club's status in European football, but also influential players such as Torres, Mascherano andof course Steven Gerrard.
The fact that so many people are are talking about the top four being broken is due to the number of games they are losing, compared to last season at the same time, the top four only lost four games between them, and now this season, they have lost twelve games.
This season certainly loooks like the one where someone could really make their mark within the premiership's top four, whichever team it may be, it's going to be one hell of a season.
I say this as despite Manchester United winning the inaugral title, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal finished 6th, 10th and 11th respectively.
It wasn't until the 1997/1998 season that the current big four actually finished in the top four, and that feat wasn't repeated until 2003/04, when you could argue money was really becoming improtant in the league, and now that they are finishing in the top four consistently, they are really raking it in, from television and Champion's League matches, so, is this top four monopoly becoming boring, and will it lead to a decrease in interest from the public?
This could be true, if it weren't for the three main chasers. I am of course talking about Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Tottenham, and maybe even Everton could be thrown into the hat.
For a number of seasons there have been cases where the big four's statuses have been under threat particularly from Everton who managed to squeeze Liverpool out in 2004/05 season, but there more recently, Spurs have finished fifth twice and ran Arsenal close, and also Aston Villa were really close, if it weren't for squad limitations maybe they would have finished fourth.
So let's take a look at the contenders.
Manchester City began the season with all guns blazing, after their mammoth spending in the summer, and were looking like serious players especially after running Manchester United very close at Old Trafford, although it would seem lately they have been lacking defensively, if Mark Hughes can get the balance between their superb, free-flowing attacking play, and a stronger, more compact defence, it is a very strong possibility that they could topple the big four, and even maintain that status, as they have the big names to do so, and financial backing to maintain the challenge, although there are a few rumbles from the fans that Hughes may not be the right man to take them to the heights of Champions League football, and with owners desperate for success, how long will Hughes be at his post at Eastlands?
Aston Villa have certainly looked likely to break into the top four for a couple of seasons, and with the shrewd purchases of Richard Dunne, James Collins, and Stephen Warnock, O'Neill seems to have found a defence that can concede fewer goals and enable the likes of Ashley Young, James Milner, Agbonlahor and Carew to really flourish and score plenty of goals that they are certainly capable of doing, and if they can maintain this steady start they could well be in the running come the end of the season, despite a poor start at home to Wigan, they have really showed what they can do with impressive wins at Anfield and against Chelsea at Villa Park, it certainly seems Villa are more than capable of beating the big teams, but are they capable of maintaining these results throughout the season?
Tottenham really started the season on fire, particularly Jermaine Defoe, both scoring goals freely, and beating Liverpool on the opening day of the season, fans were expecting the form to continue but recent results such as losing to Stoke at home, after dominating throughout really set them back, but they have quality throughout the team and if they can keep Defoe and Lennon fit and firing they have goals in them and a consistent back four would go a long way for them to finish in the top four.
Now, why has there been so much talk of these teams breaking into the top four?
I would say that it is because they haven't been as vulnerable as this over recent years, many tipped Arsenal to be the team to suffer but they have shown that they have extra-ordinary attacking flair and are winning on a regular basis, despite the two losses to both Manchester sides away from the Emirates, their season has been filled with the promises that Wenger has been making over the years, and they are looking at this moment in time, that they can sustain a title challenge, although United have been plodding along and picking up points, they are clearly not the same side with Christiano Ronaldo and even Carlos Tevez, Vidic and Ferdinand haven't played anywhere near their best and the ageing Scholes and unimpressive Nani don't seem to be up to the standard United expect, but nevertheless, they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, Chelsea seem to be the favourites to lift the title, especially after the victory at Stamford Bridge yesterday, and despite a couple of blips so far, and a transfer embargo, that may well be lifted, Chelsea seem better than ever under the impressive Ancelotti, and they are certainly my pick to lift the title.
Now Liverpool, after last season's disappointment of coming close to winning their first title, many tipped them to be up there once again but after a very poor start it seems that Liverpool are now the favourites to be beaten out of a top four spot, and already with financial problems within the club, it would really but a question mark of not only the club's status in European football, but also influential players such as Torres, Mascherano andof course Steven Gerrard.
The fact that so many people are are talking about the top four being broken is due to the number of games they are losing, compared to last season at the same time, the top four only lost four games between them, and now this season, they have lost twelve games.
This season certainly loooks like the one where someone could really make their mark within the premiership's top four, whichever team it may be, it's going to be one hell of a season.
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